Groundhog Day Festival in Woodstock, Il-- Part 3

Here's hoping it comes off as we're under another Winter Weather Warning with possibly 8-10 inches of snow expected between this evening and Saturday evening. Right in the middle of Woodstock's Groundhog Day Festival. I'm hoping to get to some of it, but will have to wait and see. Maybe even the Groundhog Day Dinner and Dance tonight.

FEBRUARY 1ST, SATURDAY

10 AM-- Noted storyteller Jim May gives his groundhog tales and free showing of "Groundhog Day" movie at the Woodstock Theatres (which was in the movie when Bill Murray did his Clint Eastwood impersonation). Danny Rubin, scriptwriter, will introduce the movie.

NOON: Chili cookoff at the Woodstock Opera House (Pennsylvania Hotel in the movie).

2PM-- Walking tour of filming sites led by Jim Hudgins, site manager of the movie (and the reason it was filmed in Woodstock).

4 PM-- Movie Symposium with special guest, script-writer Danny Rubin.

Later that night, the School District 200 Eduaction Foundation will have a benefit.

Sunday, the Prognostication at 7:07 AM and the movie showing at 10 AM and Walk at 2 PM.

Hoping to Catch Some Of It. --RoadDog

That's Right, It's Groundhog Day...Again-- Part 2: Hoping for Clouds

What is really neat about this Groundhog Day is that the actual prognostication takes place on Sunday during the festival in Woodstock, Illinois. I understand now that Danny Rubin, one of the script writers of the movie, will introduce the movie when the local theater has the free showing on Saturday (and possibly Sunday, but the announcement wasn't too clear on Sunday).

But, anyway, the BIG DAY of the festival is Monday. The last time I was in the Woodstok Square, the store that served as the Tip Top Cafe in the movie (and which had the infamous street puddle by it) was open again and serving food.

That could be a stop at some point (maybe breakfast if they're serving it). It has since had several different restaurants that were unsuccessful. I'd sure like to see someone get the rights to make it the Tip Top Cafe again and look like it did during the movie. During the filming of the movie, the place was an empty building and everything had to be brought in to replicate a restaurant. They didn't even have any running water.

I'll Do Saturday and Sunday's Schedule Tomorrow. --RoadDog

That's Right, It's Groundhog Day...Again-- Part 1

This Sunday is Groundhog Day and we sure hope Woodstock Willie does not see his shadow as we HAVE SURE HAD E-N-O-U-G-H WINTER THIS YEAR. Woodstock, Illinois, which was Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for the movie "Groundhog Day" has an annual festival to mark it and with our own Woodstock Willie.

Festivities already kicked off this past Sunday with the annual Lions Club pancake breakfast at the Moose Lodge (where the Groundhog Day Dance and Auction was held). Thursday, January 30th, we have the Awakening of the Groundhog at the Woodstock opera House (The Pennsylvanian Hotel) in the movie with fireworks at 6 PM. Afterwards there is a Groundhog Day trivia contest.

Then, Friday, January 31st the annual Groundhog Day Dinner Dance will be held at the Moose Lodge with a buffet and the Patio Daddy-Os providing the enetertainment.

The big day is Saturday. Up next.

"Morons, Your Bus Is Leaving." --RoadDog

Touring the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force-- Part 2

Back at the main museum from looking at the presidential planes and R&D planes, we then walked through the main museum. As I said before, you could take several days to really look at everything they have (and I am talking about eight-ten hour days). There is that much in there.

Here are things I found of interest. Everyone of these have photos or objects. And, I am not even going to attempt a count of planes hanging from the ceiling and on the floor.

They ran it chronologically, starting with a Wright Brothers wind tunnel. The first shot fired from a plane was August 20, 1910. It was fired at Cheapolent Bay, New York, and fired by Lt. Jacob E. Fickel. The first machine gun was fired June 7, 1912, by Captain Chandler. Both of these were hand-held affairs.

Then, there was a Wright 1916 Wind Tunnel.

Am Amazing Museum.   Just As Good As the Navy Air Museum in Pensacola, Florida.  --RoadDog

Shorpy Does Road Heritage-- Part 2

From the Jan. 21, 2014, Shorpy site.

ROUTES: 1925. "Man with early highway signage. Washington, D.C., 1925 "No caption. Early waypoints on the road to uniform route designations and standardization of highway signs." Harris & Ewing Collection. Signs in the photo: US 623, 12 W and Okla US 56.

COMMENTS: PHANTOM ROADS-- rvdroz: The signs are test examples as there were no US 56 or US 623 in early route plans.

The US-56 was an early sign example for what could be used to mark the newly standardized highways.

The US 623 sign was made by "Best Stamp Company" of Kansas City, Missouri, a maker of stamped metal objects like badges.

The Mass US-5 sign is still in use today.

COMMENT: THE MAN: by nukjam. Thinks the man is Thomas MacDonald, chief and later commissioner of the Bureau of Public Roads. Much of today's interstate U.S. highway system and its standards are a result of his work in the first part of the 20th century.

Mighty Interesting. --RoadDog

Shorpy Does Road Heritage-- Part 1

One of the most interesting websites out there is Shorpy, which takes old, high resolution photographs all the way back to the Civil War and features several a day. It is a regular stop for me, especially in regards to some great shots of the homefront during World War II. If old city photos are your thing, this be the place. And then you can magnify the pictures for unbelievable detail.

And definitely, read the comments wheneever you have the time as they have some avid and knowledgeable folk following the site.

On the 21st and 22nd of this month, Shorpy had two photos of interest to all you Road Folk/Roadies. One involved highway signs and the other stop signs.

Highway Signage and Stop Signs Next. --RoadDog

Secret Menu Items At Your Favorite Fast Food Places

From Jan. 15, 2014, Yahoo! Food "Secret Menu Items Actually Work" by Julia Bainbridge.

Apparently, you might have to order these items on the internet, but I'm willing to try it at the counter.

CHICK-FIL-A Fried Club. You can order "fried club" and get fried chicken instead of the usual grilled chicken.

IN-N-OUT Fries Well-Done. Order your fries well-done and "they'll come four seconds shy of burnt--in a good way. Think of fry-shaped potato chips." Of course, you can still order your burger "animal-style."

SONIC'S Frito Pie. You can order it at places in the South.

TACO BELL Lava. Call "Lava Anything" and they will add their signature spicy, cheesy Lava Sauce to any item on the menu.

Getting Hungry. --RoadDog

Good-Listening Radio Music for You

Right now I am listening to Saturday Morning Flashback on Chicago's WXRT which is to 1982. It goes to noon. Also listening to Beach Music Class Reunion to 1952 on Fessa John Hooks website www.beachshag.com. It's four hours and you can hear it anytime until about Wednesday.

Tomorrow it is Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT from 8 to 10 AM and Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV from 7 to 10 AM. That night it's Little Steven's Underground Garage on WXRT from 9 to 11 PM.

Monday, its Tom Marker's Bluesbreakers on XRT from 9-10 PM.

Monday to Friday it's Ten at Ten at 10 AM and 10 PM on WDRV: Mon.- 1974, Tues. -Magical, Wed.-- 1977, Thurs. --1983 and Fri. 1970. I especially like these shows as there are no commercials.

WDRV at www.wdrv.com and WXRT at www.wxrt.com. All times CST.

Get You Listenin' On. --RoadDog

Lake Geneva 2014 Winter Fest-- Part 2

And what those guys and gals can do with a 9-foot block of snow, is pretty much unbelievable.

SATURDAY Feb. 1st is the big day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there is entertainment, food and fun at the Riviera Market as well as carriage and helicopter rides. At 11 a.m. sculpting ends and until 3 p.m. "People's Choice Award" voting in Riviera Park. At 3 p.m. the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Ceompetition Awards are given out in the Riviera Ballroom.

SUNDAY, when I hope to be there, there will be viewing of the finished sculptures all day as well as activities in the Riviera Market.

TUESDAY Feb. 4th from 4-8 p.m., there is a fire ring on the beach, entertainment, music, hot chocolate and s'mores.

FRIDAY, Feb. 7th from 7 to 10 p.m. is Human Dog Sled Races and continuing to Saturday at Riviera Beach. There will be free parking at the Home Depot parking lot at US-12 and Wis-50 with free shuttle service to the Riviera.

I plan on splitting time between this on Sunday and the Groundhog Day Festival in nearby Woodstock, Illinois.

As Much Fun As You Can Have in All This Cold. --RoadDog

Lake Geneva's Riviera Docks and Park

The snow sculpture competition, judging and festivities take place mostly at Lake Geneva's famous Riviera Docks, Park and Ballroom. This is one impressive structure built on a man-made peninsula right downtown across from Popeye's (not the fried chicken chain)

The Riviera Docks was built in 1932, and hosted many of the era's Big and Swing bands like Wayne King, the Dorsey brothers, Artie Shaw and Louis Armstrong.

A beautiful fountain was dedicated in 2004 in front of the building (but is now covered for the winter).

The Gage Marine lake boats operate out of the docks and there is a regular market place of small stores on the lower level and a ballroom upstairs.

One of Lake Geneva's Grand Places. --RoadDog

Lake Geneva 2014 Winter Fest-- Part 1: Jan. 29-Feb. 8

From the US National Snow Sculpting Competition pamphlet,

We're fast approaching a fun time here in the Midwest with the annual festival in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In some years in the past, we had problems with warm winter weather, but I doubt that will be a problem this year. Unfortunately, the main part of this ten-day event is that it also falls on the same weekend as the nearby Groundhog Day Festival in Woodstock, Illinois (where the movie was filmed).

This coming Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 27-28, the 9-foot snow blocks will be built in Riviera Park and then Wednesday, teams begin sculpting until Saturday, Feb. 1st. Saturday is the big day.

--One Time I Like the Snow. --RoadDog

Eight Best Florida Beaches

From the May 3, 2013, Smarter Travel by Patricia Magona.

I sure would like to have this job checking out beaches. And, with the high today for Northeast Illinois predicted to be 2 degrees, perhaps I should be seriously thinking about some beach time myself, even if temps in the panhandle of Florida are only 40 degrees warmer. Forty degrees would seem like a major heatwave right now.

1. LIGHTHOUSE BEACH, Sanibel Island, a shell-collectors' paradise.

2. FORT ZACHARY TAYLOR BEACH, Key West, western-most points of the Keys

3. FT. MYERS BEACH, "unpretentious, laid-back attitude"

4. PENSACOLA BEACH

5. SOUTH BEACH, Miami. Home of the Beautiful People if that's your thing.

6. FORT DE SOTO STATE PARK, St. Petersburg

7. PALM BEACH Too rich for me.

8. SIESTA BEACH, Sarasota.

When the Going Gets Too Cold, the Wimps (Like Me) Go to a Warm Beach. --RoadDog

3064th Post in This Blog!!

I missed it last month, but this blog, RoadDog's RoadLog Blog, passed the magic 3,000th post. This post makes it 3064.

That sure is a lot for a two-fingered typist.

I Need to Get a lLfe.

--RoadDog

Ten Best Places to Go in Florida

From the Match 1, 2013, Smarter Travel Site by Patricia Magana.

With this crummy winter we're experiencing here in the Midwest, Florida is looking better and better. I tell You!!

1. Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando

2. South Beach, Miami

3. Everglades National Park

4. Ft. Lauderdale (We like Hollywood Beach, next to it, better.

5. Key West (Great, but also don't forget Islamorada.)

6. Universal Studios in Orlando

7. Sanibel Island

8. St. Augustine

9. Busch Gardens, Tampa

10. Amelia Island.

Not likely we'll be going to 1, 2, 6 or 9.

RoadDog

Touring the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force-- Part 1

NOVEMBER 22, 2013: If all the museum had were the R&D and Presidential planes, that would be enough, but it is way more than that. There is a huge collection of items outside, including a mock up of an English World War II American base hq and conrrol tower, but it was way too rainy to walk around outside.

Inside the museum there are huge exhibit areas tracing the development of early planes and the early days of the Air Force, referred to as the Army Air Corps until after World War II when it became a separate branch of the service. Exhibits take you through the end of World War II. We spent several hours walking around, but you could easily spend several days if you really want to take it all in.

As Arnold Would Say, "I'll Be Back." --RoadDog

7 Most Inappropriate Restaurant Names

From the August 3, 2011, Daily Meal.

1. MOTHER CLUCKERS-- Iroquois, Ontario

2. A&K LICK-A-CHICK

3. DIRTY DICK'S CRAB HOUSE-- Nags Head, NC

4. HOOTER'S-- Everywhere

5. BIG PECKER'S BAR & GRILL-- Ocean City, Maryland

THAI ME UP-- New York City

7. HUNG FAR LOW-- Portland, Oregon.

I'd eat in any of these places.

Dirty Name, Good Food? --RoadDog

America's Best Burger Cities-- Part 3

8. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL-- Juicy Lucy-- Burger with cheese melted inside the patty. (I'd go here just for the name.) Also, Matt's Bar and 5-8.

9. NEW YORK CITY-- Four Seasons features a 10-ounceNunan Randi Burger for $30. (Is tthis where the Four Seasons got their start? Music and an expensive burger.) Also, Danny Meyer's Shake Shack.

10. SAVANNAH-- B&D Burger-- Fresh Angus and home-baked beans. 33 different burgers. One of these is the Tattnall (named after the commander of the Confederate Navy Squadron at Savannah during the Civil War?) which has cheddar, pineapple, terriyaki sauce and onion rings on top.

Oh Boy To That. --RoadDog

America's Best Burger Cities-- Part 2

5. AUSTIN-- Hut's Hamburgers started as a drive-in in 1939 features grass-fed longhorn and buffalo burgers.

**  Ranch 616 features live country music weekly and the Framed Burger stuffed with something different every day like cremeni mushrooms or jalapenos.

6. CHICAGO-- Duchamp-- 8 ounce ground chuck burgers with rich trimmings from a local meatpacker on a cottage-cheese-and-dill roll.

**  Billy Goat Tavern of the classic SNL skit $2.85 for a cheeseburger, no fries, just cheeps. Now at several locations.

7.NASHVILLE-- Burger Up-- ingredients from Tennessee farms and you can also put your Jack Daniels ketchup on it.

Really, Occifer, I Just Had Four Lil' Spurts. --RoadDog

Going On JFK's Air Force One 50 Years Later-- Part 11

I really liked the prototype of the stealth bomber in the R&D hangar.

Like the tour guide said on the way over, be extremely careful and aware of where you walk. There are plenty of uneven places on the hangar floor, plus metal strips for opening and closing the doors. But you have to be even more aware of the many props and wings that you might painfully walk into if you're not paying attention..and, there is a lot to pay attention to in there (both the R&D hangar and presidential plane one).

Over at the Presidential side, we saw the outside of JFK's plane, which was not used just that day, but by every president until Clinton.

I went through JFK's plane twice, first filming with the camcorder and the second time with the camera. Like with Truman's plane, there is a solid wall of plexiglass and the walkways are quite narrow. It was really hard to get a good shot as such and there was plenty of reflection. The shots did not come out very well, sadly.

But, here we were at a real piece of history. We saw the room where LBJ was sworn in with Jackie Kennedy standing beside him with blood still on her outfit and looking like she was in shock. At the back of the plane, we saw where seats were cut out to carry JFK's coffin. It wouldn't be quite right to carry the president's body back in the cargo bay.

One person in the plane when we were was an expert on the assassination and said that when we were on the plane, that exactly fifty years earlier, Kennedy had been on it flying from Ft. Worth to Dallas before that fateful motorcade.

That's Some Real History There. --RoadDog

Ten Most Breath-taking Views in the United States

From the Jan. 10, 2014, Yahoo! Travel, Men's Journal.

1. Franconia Ridge, New Hampshire.

2. Hudson River, NYC. Most recognizable skyline.

3. Haystacks, Florida, World's 3rd largest barrier reef, but you have to dive down 35 feet to view the 15-foot high mounds of star coral and also the wreck of the World War II transport Vandenburg.

4. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

5. Santa Elena Canyon, Texas, on the Rio Grande River.

7. Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

8.  Lake Solitude, Wyoming, which can be seen from the Teton Park Road.

9.  Alyeska Resort, Alaska. See a glacier and the world's northernmost rain forest at the same time and the Chugach Mountains.

10. Kalalau Beach, Hawaii, on the northwest side of Kaua.

--RoadDog

America's Best Burger Cities-- Part 1

From Travel and Leisure Readers.

Where did the burger begin? Some say at a lunch counter in Athens, Texas, in the 1880s. Others claim at Louis' Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut.

1. HOUSTON-- a double patty , half pound with shredded lettuce and mustard at Lankfort Grocery and Hubcat Grill.

2. SALT LAKE CITY-- (In-N-Out Burger now there. I agree that anywhere you have one of these places, it's as good of a burger as you'll ever get.) But, a quarter pound patty piled high with beef at Crown Burger.

3. PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND-- Stanley's Famous Hamburgers (since 1932)

4. DENVER-- H Burger-- fresh ground Angus, Hatch chile pepper and red pepper-tomato jam. Bud's Bar in suburban Sedalia-- patty, cheese and bun (fries never on the menu.)

More to Come. --RoadDog

Going On JFK's Air Force One Fifty Years Later-- Part 10

As I said before, a big reason for me leaving on Nov. 21st, was because I wanted to be at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force outside of Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 22, 2013, the 50th anniversary of that tragic day that so marked my generation's collective memory. And, here I was on a bus heading out to the hangar in which that plane resides today.

We got off the bus and everyone made a quick dash to the plane. Denny and I figured we'd just go over to the other side of the hangar and take a look at the Research and Development planes and what-not over there. That was interesting as well.

After 20 minutes, we walked over to the presidential plane side and went on a plane used by FDR and Truman. Now, this was a tight fit as the walkways are lined with a plastic wall and at places was very small. I found the elevator they placed at the rear of the plane for FDR to be quite interesting.

As Tatoo Would Say... "Da Plane, Da Plane." --RoadDog

Saying Goodbye to Missouri's Nostalgiaville U.S.A.

From the Dec. 15, 2013, St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Nostalgiaville USA soon to be just a fond memory" by Kavita Kumar.

Back in December, it was 70% off everything at the great place Judi and Ron Dunwoody opened 18 years ago. They are retiring because of age, not for lack of business (although the poor economy didn't help), at ages 65 and 66 because it has just gotten to be too much.

The exit off I-70 at Exit 148, Kingdom City west of St. Louis. As in classic signage, you can see ads for the place quite often as you drive west from St. Louis. It is what I call a "classic tourist trap" and a place I had best stay out of, but never did and it cost me a minimum of $50 to go in.

The store's last day was to be Monday or Tuesday.

They featured all the neat old nostalgua stuff like Betty Boop, Wizard of Oz and Route 66. If I recall, however, there is another tourist trap at that exit on the other side of I-70, so you can still get trapped.

I'll Miss It. A Real Sucker for Tourist Traps.  --RoadDog

Before You Fly: Ten Things Airlines Won't Tell You

From the Dec. 16, 2013, Yahoo! Finance, Market Watch by Anna Marie Andriotis.

1. We're JACKING up ticket prices.

2. We sold your SEAT twice.

3. Don't count on us to get you there on TIME.

4. We'll make you pay to check in your LUGGAGE-- and may lose it too.

5. CARRY-ONS may not be free for much longer.

6.. AIR REWARDS programs aren't so rewarding anymore.

7. We're devalung your MILES.

8. It costs us nothing, but you will have to PAY EXTRA for a good seat.

9. FUEL COSTS aren't just our problem.

10. Our MERGERS are hurting your wallet.

And, Let Me Add, You Have to Be On Time, But We Don't Have To Be On Time. --RoadDog

Santa Doesn't Live Here Anymore

From the Dec. 15, 2013, Yahoo! News, Solent News "Abandoned Santa Claus Land" by James Cheadle. All that's left of the Arizona theme park that was once planned to rival Disneyland are ruins and barbed wire.
The project was begun in 1938 and developed by Nina Talbot near Route 66 and was a big success at first. You could meet Santa, tour workshops and get close to Rudolph on the Reindeer Ride.

The park's Christmas Tree Inn featured a traditional Christmas dinner feast served every day.

Comments to the article included one person saying it never was much, just converted gas stations between Kingman and Vegas. Another said that the original owners were Doc and Erma and that it was on US-93 to Vegas.

Bah, Humbug.  --RoadDog

A Weird City Name in Every State-- Part 4: Some Real Interesting Ones Here

FLEATOWN, Ohio

OKAY, Oklahoma

BORING, Oregon

INTERCOURSE, Pennsylvania

LITTLE COMPTON, Rhode Island

FINGERVILLE, South Carolina

YUM YUM, Tennessee

DING DONG, Texas

ELMO, Utah

TINMOUTH, Vermont

THREEWAY, Virginia

HUMPTULIPS, Washington

ROMANCE, West Virginia

SPREADEAGLE, Wisconsin

CHUGWATER, Wyoming.

Makes You Wonder. --RoadDog

A Weird City Name in Every State-- Part 3: Gross, Nebraska

BLOODY SPRINGS, Mississippi

LICKING, Missouri

SQUARE BUTTE, Montana

GROSS, Nebraska

SEARCHLIGHT, Nevada

SANDWICH, New Hampshire

LOVELADIES, New Jersey

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, New Mexico

BUSTI, New York

MEAT CAMP, North Carolina

FLASHER, North Dakota.

You Have to Wonder About the Stories Behind These Names. --RoadDog

A Weird City Name in Every State-- Part 2: Accident, Maryland

DISCO, Illinois

FRENCH LICK, Indiana

LITTLE TURKEY, Iowa

GAS, Kansas

PAINT LICK, Kentucky

WATERPROOF, Louisiana

BALD HEAD, Maine

ACCIDENT, Maryland

BRAINTREE, Massachusetts

HELL, Michigan

FERTILE, Minnesota.

The Accident Made My Braintree Hurt and Gave Me Gas. --RoadDog

A Weird City Name In Every State-- Part 1

From Buzz Feed.

Every state has at least one place that would make most folk say, "Hhhmmmmnnn." Heres a list of one such place in all 50 states:

BURNT CORN, Alabama
UNALASKA, Alaska

TUBA CITY, Arizona
BALD KNOB, Arkansas

ZZYZT, California
HYGIENE, Colorado

KILLINGLY, Connecticut
SLAUGHTER BEACH, Delaware

CHRISTMAS, Florida
SANTA CLAUS, Georgia

NONOPAPA, Hawaii
MAGIC CITY, Idaho

Flat Top, West Virginia.   --RoadDog

Chicken for 50+ Years in DeKalb

From the Oct. 4, 2011, Northern Star (NIU) "DeKalb chicken restaurant still in business after 50 years." 

Located on Il-38, the historic Lincoln Highway, on the east side of DeKalb, Illinois, with huge letters spelling out "CHICKEN." It's Lothson's Karry-Out at 644 E. Lincoln Highway "Where Chicken Is King."

It is currently run by one person, Janet Fawcett. It was opened by DeKalb residents Keith and Arlene Lothson in 1949 on Market Street as an egg and dressed poultry restaurant and they began frying chicken in 1950. They also serve fried livers, fried gizzards and perch.

The place has been at its current location since 1957 ot 1958. And, at one time they used to have five locations at Rochelle, Elgin and Rockford.

Few NIU students go there, however. I went to Northern Illinois and never heard of it until now.

It is open from 4:30 to 8 Wednesday to Sunday.

Watch Out KFC! --RoadDog

Lincoln Highway Going to the Postcards

From Jan. 1, 2014, Trib Live for Western Pennsylvania "Lincoln Highway Experience Museum launches postcard exhibit" by Deborah A Brehun.

Located near Kingston Bridge on State Route 30 eastbound in Latrobe, Pa., there is a new exhibit "Wish You Were Here" in the historic 1815 Johnston House, one of the oldest structures on the Lincoln Highway.

Penny postcards were once a common communication form back in days gone by. Johnston House has more than 3000 postcards of the Lincoln Highway and six have been enlarged for display.

All paid visitors to the museum will receive a free postcard to write and address a message as well as free postage (considerably more than a penny) while at the museum.

--RoadDog

The Very First Dairy Queen in Joliet on Route 66-- Part 2

After the ceremony, the people walked five blocks north on Chicago Street (Route 66). John Gainos, president and CEO of the Minnesota-based DQ International had been in Chicago for the National Restaurant Association convention at McCormick Center. He didn't even know the original building was still standing until Joliet notified him.

On June 22, 1940, Sherb Noble opened the store and made a whopping $4,000 the first year and on his most profitable day, made $88. All of this, of course, on that road where you can get your kicks and, evidently, soft-serve.

However, Mr. Noble did not invent soft-serve ice cream. J.F. McCullough thought ice cream served at 0 degrees "froze your taste buds." He found a machine that dispensed the treat at 22 degrees and, soft serve ice cream (not frozen).

In the 1940s, the area around the original Dairy Queen was mainly Slovenian, but now it is mostly Hispanic. The sign on the building reads, "Jesus Christ is Lord."

The original DQ closed in the early 1950s and the site has been many businesses since then.

It sure would be nice if Dairy Queen would turn the original place into a museum.

Just Saying.... --RoadDog

The First Dairy Queen in Joliet on Route 66-- Part 1

From the May 20, 2011 Trib Local "Dairy Queen officials visit site of original franchise" by Mary Owen. Accompanied by a photo of the original store which opened in 1940 at 501 N. Chicago Street in Joliet, Illinois.

More thn 20 Dairy Queen officials including the company's president and the granddaughter of the man who started the first franchise were in Joliet on Friday.

In November, the Joliet City Council granted landmark status to the non-descript white washed building which originally sold cones for 5 cents. Today, it is used as a church.

Free Dilly Bars were given out at the Joliet Area Historical Museum (a great museum which has a lot about Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway, both of which go through the city). About 110 attended a short program and a historical plaque was presented.

Something Worth Turning Into a Company Museum, Right DQ? --RoadDog

NC Bound T-Giving 2013-- Part 9: Get Me to the Bus On Time

Both in the theater and on the way over, we were reminded the importance of not staying too long at the Presidential Hangar, which also includes Research and Development aircraft.

The volunteer who took us said they were expecting a whole lot of people today because of the Kennedy Assassination anniversary and they had to keep the crowd flowing.

He gave information on the way over and I really enjoyed him telling about the visitor who kept asking about where the shuttle was. For some reason, NASA did not give one of the retired space shuttles to this museum which would have been a great placement. Of course, the tour director thought the visitor was talking about a space shuttle and kept telling him they didn't have it.

The visitor was getting quite agitated, but kept asking. He finally changed his question to "Where's the bus?" Problem solved.

Shuttle, What Shuttle? Not Talking About Space Shuttles.  --RoadDog

Worth Your Whirl: Ten Great Carousels-- Part 5

9. THE FOREST PARK CAROUSEL-- QUEENS, NEW YORK: Features the carved horses of German immigrant Daniel Muller, known for his extremely intricate work in the early 20th century and is considered a master of his craft. The ride includes horses along with a deer, lion and tiger arranged in three concentric circles.

10. RIVERVIEW CAROUSEL, SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA-- AUSTELL, GEORGIA: Every large chain theme park recognizes the need for a carousel. Said Ferrari, "It works in any environment." This one dates to 1908 and once stood in Chicago's famous Riverview Park. It features five rows of horses and chariots. I'm sure glad that part of Riverview, at least, was saved.

I'd also like to add the carousel at Chicagoland's Great America theme park, the one at the House On the Rock in Wisconsin and there is a very impressive one on the Lincoln Highway in Ohio (but I don't remember the name of the town).

You Got Me Going in Circles. --RoadDog

Worth Your Whirl: Ten Great Carousels-- Part 4

7. TOM MANKIEWICZ CONSERVATION CAROUSEL-- LOS ANGELES ZOO: Classic carousel but just two-years old and consists of endangered animals including pandas, honeybees and gorillas. The soundtrack as it goes around features music of Janet Jackson, Police, Carpenters and others who recorded for California's A&M Records(one of the ride's major sponsors was Jerry Moss (the "M" in the company).

8. A CAROUSEL FOR MISSOULA, MONTANA: Local cabinet-maker Chuck Kaparich inspired the town to restore this antique carousel and more than 100,000 volunteer hours were put in to carve and piece together some 16,000 parts.

Round and Round We Go. --RoadDog

Worth Your Whirl: Ten Great Carousels-- Part 3

5. OAK PARK AMUSEMENT PARK CAROUSEL-- PORTLAND, OREGON: German and Italian woodworkers hand-carved the animals on the century-old ride next to the Willamette River. The park also has a beloved roller rink. The carousel is on the NRHP and was refurbished a few years ago.

6. THE 1902 HERSCHELL-SPILLMAN CAROUSEL-- OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND: The boardwalk merry-go-round at Trimper's Rides & Amusements is over a hundred years ago and one of te nation's oldest still operating in its original location, but now it runs on electricity instead of steam power. Ferrari says running one of these is a labor of love as they have to be taken apart every winter to make sure everything is safe.

 For Some Reason, I Now Have a Hankering to Go On One. Thanks a Lot, Ferrari! --RoadDog

Worth Your Whirl: Ten Great Carousels-- Part 2

3. CEDAR DOWNS RACING DERBY-- SANDUSKY, OHIO: A 1922 carousel that can reach speeds of 15 mph and rare sliding operation in which horses move forward and backward giving a race sensation. The only other one is in Rye, NY. Giddy-up, Go.

4. CRESCENT PARK CAROUSEL-- EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: Opened in 1895 with 66-figures and was said to offer the "Total Carousel Experience" with music, beveled mirrors and glass jewels. Rhode Island declared it a State Symbol of Folk Art in 1985 and it is on the NRHP. Ferrari says it is one of the oldest he knows of.

I Might Have to Go On #3. --RoadDog

Worth Your Whirl: 10 Great Carousels-- Part 1

From the August 30, 2013, USA Today "10 Great Places: These carousels are worth your whirl" by Larry Bleiberg.

Valerio Ferrari, president of Central Amusement International which operates the B&B Carousell (the historic spelling) at Luna Park in Coney Island shares his favorites:

1. SAN FRANCISCO CAROUSEL, CALIFORNIA-- Crafted in Italy and now at Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf. Features hand-painted landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Chinatown and lit by 1,800 LED lights.

2. SMITHSONIAN CAROUSEL, WASHINGTON, D.C. Built in 1947 and played a role in the Civil Rights Movement when it operated at a segregated Maryland amusement park which opened to blacks on the day of the March on Washington, fifty years ago. An 11-month-old girl desegregated the park when she rode the carousel that morning. The merry-go-round arrived at the Smithsonian in 1981.

Round and Round We Go. --RoadDog

NC Bound T-Giving 2013-- Part 8: National Museum of USAF

Well, I finally managed to get into the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force parking lot after another missed sign and met up with buddy Denny and went straight away to a line to get tickets for the shuttle bus out to JFK's Air Force One. Both entry into the museum and the shuttle were free!!!

Because of the significance of the anniversary of the assassination, several more shuttles had been added than would usually be available. We were lucky enough to get on the first bus out this morning, seats #39 and #40. Afterwards, we were ushered into the auditorium where just a few weeks earlier they had had the Doolittle Raiders Final Toast (would I have ever have liked to been there for that) and were given the particulars of the trip and told we were welcome to film as much as we like, but not on the way over because the hangar the presidential planes is in is on the Wright-Patterson AFB. High alert, you know.

Next, A Real Piece of History, a Plane and An Event. --RoadDog

Wish I'd Have Gone: Route 66 Radio Tour

From June Lake County Journal by Paul Lepak. This took place in June 2013 when local LP Radio station WRLR 98.3 FM (but streams over internet) in Round Lake Park, in conjunction with 92.3 Forest FM from the United Kingdom had their "Mother Road Tour 2013."

They started June 6th from the road's beginning at Adams and Michigan in downtown Chicago and went to Pontiac, Illinois with visits to various Red Carpet Corridor towns (Joliet to Towanda).

It was carried on WRLR and Forest FM and fed to the BBC.

Famed WLS DJ Clark Weber will be joining their show from Pontiac via phone. At least one broadcast will be from the Pontiac Route 66 Museum's recreated 1966 studio using actual working vintage equipment.

Plans were to do the first morning show broadcast from the steps of the Chicago Art Institute's front steps if approved. Then, it was to be on to Lou Mitchell's for more talk and breakfast.

Around noon they were to drive to Joliet and spend the night after doing a 6-9 PM show. Next day, on to Pontiac and a morning broadcast on June 8th and then shows from several other Pontiac locals. You can hear segments at the WRLR 98.3 site.

I Sure Would Have Loved to Be On That Road Trip. --RoadDog

This Is the Grandfather of All My Blogs, Happy 8th Year

This blog is now enetering its 8th year, having started in 2007. This is the 3035th post. If the Rose Bowl is the "Grandfather of All Bowls" this is "The Grandfather Of All My Blogs."

I had wanted to start a blog for several years, but didn't because of technology fears. However, on my way back from North Carolina, I stopped to visit my nephew Andy and niece Andrea and their kids in Tennessee in 2007 and Andrea was nice enough to get me started. And, here I am.

This blog started because of my love of those old roads that started after we discovered Route 66 and then expanded to the Lincoln Highway and National Road.

Originally this was to be the only blog (and I kind of wish it was) but when I got back home, I couldn't get this blog up on the old 'puter and while trying, ended up with a blog on my own which I named Down Da Road I Go and decided it was going to be about other things of interest to me and my life.

So, Here We Are, Seven Blogs Later --RoadDog